When the Body Says No by Gabor Mate MD

[Kathleenb]

I cruised thru the first few chapters, then flipped to the last one. Would like to read it more thoroughly when I have a chance.

Book talks about the connection between stress and disease. Did you know there is a psychological profile for various diseases, like Lou Gehrig's disease, multiple sclerosis, invasive melanoma, more?

Or that psych therapy improves cancer survivorship?

Last chapter - the Seven A's of Healing
Acceptance - recognize and accept how things are - not be resigned to the outcome - and a compassionate relationship with self
Awareness - reclaim the lost capacity for emotional truth-recognition; learn our own signs of stress
Anger - don't repress it, but don't loose it unbridled, either - both represent a fear of the genuine expression of anger, healthy anger
Autonomy - illness is a culmination of a lifelong  history of a struggle for self
Assertion - declaration to the world and ourselves that we are who we are; a challenge to the core belief that we must somehow justify our existence - demands neither acting nor reacting, but being.
Affirmation - a positive statement, a movement toward something of value. honor the urge to create something; it is healing. Not to do so deadens our bodies and spirits. Also - affirm the universe and our connection with it; spirituality w/o bondage.

[Malina]

This sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[Carlie1975]

I remember reading some research several years ago that suggested psych therapy can aid with pain control and quality of life in patients with chronic pain (which sadly many take to imply that 'it's all in their mind').

[clbmom]

Ditto to what Ma said!